Democrats are accusing Republicans of failing to prepare for the hurricane.

State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam’s (R) campaigning schedule has been cut short likely because “as a Cabinet member, Putnam needs to focus on his day job while the state deals with the aftershocks of Hurricane Irma ripping through the state.” While Putnam has to skip a meet-and-greet at a Baptist Church, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum (D) and former Rep. Gwen Graham (D-02) campaigned in Tampa over the weekend. (Florida Politics)

BLAME FOR IRMA. Graham told “a big, cheering crowd at a Democratic Party gathering Saturday” that “Florida wasn’t prepared for Hurricane Irma, and much of the blame goes to Republicans who have controlled state government for 20 years. … Graham faulted Gov. Rick Scott (R) and GOP-dominated Legislatures past and present for defeating regulations that could have prevented the deaths of eight patients in a Hollywood nursing home following the storm; for failing to act on climate change; for weakening building codes, and for failing to keep up with infrastructure and transportation needs.”

HOUSING SENIORS. “Democratic candidates for governor are hitting Gov. Rick Scott and others hard in the wake of eight deaths in a South Florida nursing home that lost its air conditioning as Hurricane Irma hit the state. … A criminal investigation by Broward County law enforcement is underway into the deaths at Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, including whether they were heat-related or from carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.” Gillum “called for an independent investigation, slamming Scott for giving out ‘a special priority phone line – then fail(ing) to act when they received distress calls.’” Graham “also issued a statement that she had filed a public records request ‘for all call logs, text messages, and voicemails to a private emergency phone number Rick Scott distributed to healthcare providers.’” (SaintPetersBlog/release)

Housing investor Chris King (D) “said Friday it’s past time to talk about what to do long term. King’s Winter Park-based Elevation Financial Group owns or operates numerous senior affordable housing centers in five states including Florida. He has made affordable housing and senior care programs focal points of his campaign since he entered the race for the Democratic nomination in early March.”

King: “For two decades we have had no commitment to housing, to housing excellence, to housing access, to housing affordability. So the only time we really address is when we have a crisis.” (Florida Politics)

"Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was spotted entering a congressional office building on Tuesday morning for what a committee aide told The Daily Beast was a meeting with the leaders of the House Foreign Affairs committee and relevant staff about his time working in the Trump administration. ... Tillerson’s arrival at the Capitol was handled with extreme secrecy. No media advisories or press releases were sent out announcing his appearance. And he took a little noticed route into the building in order to avoid being seen by members of the media."